• Saturday, 7:30 p.m. — The Great Vigil of Easter (one of the most ancient Christian services celebrating the return of God’s Light into the world).

• Easter Sunday, 10 a.m. — Festival Easter service with the choir of St. Patrick’s and additional instrumentalists. An Easter egg hunt for the children will follow the service.

Music always plays an important part in Episcopal worship, and music for Holy Week and Easter is among the most beautiful written for Christian worship.

On Good Friday, the NightSong Trio with Jessica Peterson on flute, Heidi Tanner on violin, and Sally Neel on piano and organ, will present a 45-minute musical meditation prior to the start of the liturgy. NightSong Trio initially assembled last year to play for St. Patrick’s Good Friday and Easter services. The musicians quickly realized they had come upon a compatible ensemble and have since performed to very appreciative audiences in Pagosa Springs and beyond.

They will be offering music by J.S. Bach, CPE Bach, Jean Baptiste Luillet, Gabriel Faure, and others on Good Friday at 5:15 p.m.

The choir of St. Patrick’s will sing for all of the Holy Week services, bringing a special artistic emphasis to the spirit of the liturgy. The music will come to a joyous climax on Easter Sunday with the choir singing festival music by G.F. Handel with the addition of special instrumentals. Organist Sally Neel will conclude the Easter service with a rendering of the festival organ piece, “Toccata,” by C.M. Widor.

The public is invited and encouraged to attend any or all of the Holy Week services at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, located at 225 S. Pagosa Blvd.

If you have questions about the services, or would like more information about the church, call 731-5801, or visit www.stpatrickspagosa.org.